A FAMILY is fighting to free a man still in jail 14 years after being sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to murdering his mother's violent ex-partner.

Mother-of-six Ann Southward and her daughter Jane are battling to have Darren Southward freed from prison after he was returned to custody last month having spent five months on the run following a visit to his ailing mum.

Darren was just 19 years old when he was jointly charged with his mother Ann in July 1989 for murdering George Robertson.

Before the start of the hearing Darren was persuaded to plead guilty believing that charges against his mother would then be dropped. Separately, Ann was interviewed by her lawyer and persuaded to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The trial, which was expected to last four weeks, was over in a day. Darren was sentenced to life in prison with a recommendation that he serve a minimum of eight years.

Ann, whose father had been a prison officer and who was raising nine-year-old twins alone, was jailed for two years even though she said she had been nowhere near the crime scene at the time of her ex-partner's death.

Ann, aged 55, of Clayton, and Darren's sister Jane are now hoping to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights to secure his release after, they say, Darren and Ann were pressured into pleading guilty and denied a fair trial.

Jane said: "They never wanted to plead guilty but counsel said they had come up with a deal and they had to make a decision there and then. We had never had any contact with police or the courts before. We had to trust the advice that was given.

"Darren was 19 then. He has now spent nearly half his life in prison. He is 34 this year. In 14 years mum has deteriorated. Our family has been destroyed but we have to stay strong for Darren and keep up the hope that he will come home and start a new life."

On the day George Robertson died, Darren had gone to his house to warn him to keep away from his mother who continued to be terrorised by the man she had separated from in 1984 after a turbulent relationship.

Ann said: "He would wait for me when I took the twins to school and jump out on me and punch me in the face. He would come to my house and smash my windows and threaten to take the kids away to Scotland.

"Darren was 19. He felt he should be protecting me. I pleaded with him not to go. Darren wasn't a big lad, he is only 5ft 4in, and Mr Robertson was 5ft 11in and a violent man. I knew Darren would come off worse."

Darren later turned up at his mother's house where he told her, "Mum, I've really hurt him".

He admitted hitting Mr Robertson with a hammer he had picked up at the property. He had called an ambulance before fleeing the scene but it was later found that he had not given the correct address.

Darren was arrested shortly afterwards along with his mother, his father Derek, his twin sister Tracey, his sisters Julie and Jane and Jane's husband.

Jane said: "We were told we were all being charged with conspiracy to murder. the whole family was under pressure. We were all young at the time. We were all in shock. We didn't understand what was happening. We were all scared. You never expect something like this to happen in your own family.

"If Darren and mum had pleaded not guilty to murder, they would have faced a jury. Mum would have been cleared and Darren would probably have been convicted of manslaughter and would have been out in a few years."

Darren was allowed out of prison to visit his dying father in hospital and attended his funeral three years ago. Ann believes that her son finally 'snapped' when he was allowed home to visit her during an illness in January when he went on the run.

Ann said: "Darren always said he knew his dad would be waiting for him when he was finally released. When he died we were worried that Darren might kill himself. When he came home to see me in January I think he was worried he would be 54 before he got out. I won't be here then.

"I know going on the run won't help him but he should never have been sentenced for murder. He should have been out years ago and we have to keep on fighting for him."